Football 7/28/2026 1:00:00 PM MSU Athletics Communications

Morgan State Football Opens Preseason Training in Prep for Aug. 29 Opener

Bears will host five (5) games this season at Hughes Stadium.

BALTIMORE, Md. (July 28, 2026) – The road to the 2026 season officially begins Wednesday morning as Morgan State football opens preseason training camp at Hughes Stadium in preparation for its season opener on Aug. 29 at North Carolina A&T.

Head coach Damon Wilson and the Bears will begin the first chapter of the 2026 campaign with an energized roster looking to build momentum heading into the new season.

Morgan State enters fall camp with 116 players, including 66 returning letterwinners, and 15 returning starters. The Bears return a veteran nucleus featuring several fourth- and fifth-year players expected to provide leadership on both sides of the ball.

Among the experienced returners are linebacker Arturo Mattocks, defensive linemen Jordan Jeudy, defensive backs Jayden Jackson and Dantonio Hackworth Jr., running back Keith Jenkins Jr., offensive linemen Daniel Casillas Jr. and Adorain Favors, and quarterbacks Tahj Smith and Raeden Oliver.

The Bears' roster features a balanced mix of experience and depth across every position group. Offensively, Morgan State enters camp with six quarterbacks, 11 running backs, six tight ends, 16 wide receivers and 21 offensive linemen. Defensively, the Bears boast 18 defensive linemen, 13 linebackers and 21 defensive backs, while four specialists round out the roster.

The roster also welcomes 56 newcomers who will experience their first fall camp in Baltimore, including 29 true freshmen from the 2026 signing class and 12 Division I transfers added through the transfer portal.

The next four weeks will focus on installing the Bears' offensive and defensive systems, evaluating position battles and building chemistry before the team turns its attention to its Week 1 matchup against the Aggies.

Morgan State opens the 2026 season with back-to-back road contests, traveling to North Carolina A&T on Saturday, Aug. 29, before taking on Arizona State on Sept. 5. The Bears will then return to Hughes Stadium for their home opener against Virginia University of Lynchburg on Sept. 12.

The Bears will continue preseason practices throughout August leading up to kickoff as they prepare for another challenging campaign in pursuit of a Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference championship.

MSU Predicted 4^th in MEAC Preseason Order of Finish
Morgan State was selected to finish fourth in the MEAC's 2026 preseason predicted order of finish, as voted on by the league's head coaches and sports information directors. The Bears enter the season looking to build on last year's campaign after posting a 4-8 overall record and a 1-4 mark in MEAC play in 2025.

Season No. 5 for Damon Wilson
The 2026 campaign marks Damon Wilson's fifth season at the helm of the Morgan State football program, and it may be his most demanding schedule yet. The Bears will be tested early and often with a road-heavy slate that includes several marquee non-conference matchups and challenging road environments.

Morgan State opens the season on Aug. 29 at North Carolina A&T before traveling west to face Big 12 opponent Arizona State on Sept. 5. The Bears then return to Baltimore for their home opener against Virginia University of Lynchburg on Sept. 12 at Hughes Stadium.

The road challenges continue throughout the season with non-conference trips to Towson, Villanova, and a neutral-site showdown against Tennessee State at Nissan Stadium in Nashville, Tennessee. Once conference play begins, the Bears will open MEAC action at home against Beltway rival Howard in what is expected to be one of the season's marquee matchups at Hughes Stadium.

All-MEAC Wideout Returns
Morgan State welcomes back one of the MEAC's most explosive playmakers in 2026 with the return of wide receiver Justin Perry. The All-MEAC Second Team selection emerged as one of the conference's top deep threats during his freshman campaign, hauling in 25 receptions for 464 yards and five touchdowns while averaging 18.6 yards per catch — ranking No. 24 nationally among FCS receivers. Perry's big-play ability and knack for stretching opposing defenses make him a key weapon as the Bears look to build on their offensive success this fall.

Nine Preseason All-MEAC Honorees
Morgan State placed nine (9) student-athletes on the 2026 Preseason All-MEAC Team, as selected by the conference's head coaches and sports information directors. Leading the way were three first-team selections: tight end Alex Simmons, linebacker Arturo Mattocks, and defensive back Aki Harvey.

The Bears also had five second-team honorees, including running back Keith Jenkins Jr., wide receiver Justin Perry, defensive lineman Justin Dutton, defensive lineman Kristopher Boyd, punter Shane Messenger, and return specialist Malique Leatherbury.

New Coaches Join The Staff
Damon Wilson hired three new full-time assistant coaches during the offseason: offensive line coach Tate Leavitt, who spent the 2025 season as offensive coordinator and offensive line coach at West Virginia Wesleyan College, and wide receivers coach Douglas McNeil III, who spent four seasons as an assistant coach with Bowie State (2021-25).

Numbers & Notes

9 – Number of 20-or-more point games in 2025

12 – Starters not returning from 2025

15 – Returning starters from 2025

107 – Number of career wins (107-72) by Coach Damon Wilson

114 – Number of career tackles recorded by LB Arturo Mattocks

464 – Number of receiving yards by WR Justin Perry in 2025

579 – Number of rushing yards by RB Randall Nauden in 2025

2026 Morgan State Football Schedule

Aug. 29	at N.C. A&T	6 p.m.
Sept. 5	at Arizona State	9 p.m.
Sept. 12	Virginia Univ. of Lynchburg	6 p.m.
Sept. 19	at Towson	6 p.m.
Oct. 3	at Villanova	1 p.m.
Oct. 10	Robert Morris (Homecoming)	12 p.m.
Oct. 17	at Tennessee State	6:30 p.m.
Oct. 24	Howard*	3 p.m.
Oct. 29	South Carolina State*	7 p.m.
Nov. 7	at Delaware State*	1 p.m.
Nov. 14	Norfolk State*	12 p.m.
Nov. 21	at North Carolina Central*	2 p.m.

*Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference game

Season tickets for the 2026 campaign are now available. Click here to purchase.

For additional information on MEAC football, visit MEACSports.com.

FOLLOW MORGAN STATE ATHLETICS IN CYBERSPACE
There are many ways to keep up with MSU athletics online and on the go:
• Visit www.morganstatebears.com, the official website of Bear athletics, for news, schedules, stats, bios, and more.
• Follow us on social media:
Facebook: /MorganStateBears
Twitter: @MorganStBears
Instagram: /MorganStateBears

ABOUT MORGAN
Morgan State University, founded in 1867, is a Carnegie-classified high research (R2) institution offering nearly 140 academic programs leading to degrees from the baccalaureate to the doctorate. As Maryland's Preeminent Public Urban Research University, and the only university to have its entire campus designated as a National Treasure by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Morgan serves a multiethnic and multiracial student body and seeks to ensure that the doors of higher education are opened as wide as possible to as many as possible. For more information about Morgan State University, visit www.morgan.edu.

Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

#49 Arturo Mattocks: LB; 6' 1"; Junior

#44 Justin Dutton: DL; 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore

#8 Jordan Jeudy: DL; 6' 2"; Senior

#85 Shane Messenger: P; 6' 0"; Junior

#52 Kristopher Boyd: DL; 6' 5"; Junior

#74 Daniel Casillas Jr.: OL; 6' 2"; Senior

#1 Keith Jenkins Jr.: RB; 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior

#12 Malique Leatherbury: WR; 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore

#0 Arturo Mattocks: LB; 6' 1"; Senior

#6 Tahj Smith: QB; 6' 2"; Junior

Players Mentioned

#49 Arturo Mattocks
: 6' 1"; Junior
: LB

#44 Justin Dutton
: 6' 4"; Redshirt Sophomore
: DL

#8 Jordan Jeudy
: 6' 2"; Senior
: DL

#85 Shane Messenger
: 6' 0"; Junior
: P

#52 Kristopher Boyd
: 6' 5"; Junior
: DL

#74 Daniel Casillas Jr.
: 6' 2"; Senior
: OL

#1 Keith Jenkins Jr.
: 6' 1"; Redshirt Junior
: RB

#12 Malique Leatherbury
: 5' 9"; Redshirt Sophomore
: WR

#0 Arturo Mattocks
: 6' 1"; Senior
: LB

#6 Tahj Smith
: 6' 2"; Junior
: QB